Posthuman Ethical Aesthetics: An Applied Theatre Case

Abstract This article examines the relationship between ethics and aesthetics from the perspectives of posthumanism and new materialism, aiming to enrich the debate on the role of aesthetic education as a tool for promoting healing in response to the planetary crisis. The article shows how, in the posthumanist and neomaterialist approach, ethics and aesthetics are two interconnected dimensions capable of soliciting affective forces that encourage individuals to realize their potential for joyful self-assertion and connection with others. The article presents applied theatre as a powerful tool that embodies the potential of the relationship between ethics and aesthetics. It presents a case study of the Italian company ATIR, which utilizes theatre for social inclusion and transformation, training innovative professional figures, such as educator-actors. The case analysis illustrates how the applied theatre practiced by ATIR generates knowledge, stimulates the collective imagination, and encourages resistance to oppressive forces by embodying the relational perspective between ethics and aesthetics for educational and social change.